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'(ModeL) P. H. CUTLER.

BILL FILE.

No. 247,317.. Patented Sept. Z0,1881.,

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ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED H. CUTLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BILL-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,317, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed June 14, 1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter or Bill-Files and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon,which form a partof this specification.

My invention relates to that class of letter and bill files which have leaves or partitions hinged together, between which the letters or bills may be kept in classified order.

Heretofore the leaves or partitions have been hinged comparatively close together in book or other analogous form, and the capacity of these files for the reception of letters and bills has necessarily been quite limited, except where the files have been made so large as to be exceedingly cumbersome in handling.

I propose to provide for the accommodation and classification of a much larger number of letters and bills than heretofore and at the same time permit of easy and rapid manipulation of the files in inserting or removingletters or bills and to that end my invention consists, substantially, of a tray or frame adapted to rest in the bottom of a desk or other drawer, and to which are hinged, at snitabledistances apart, a number of leaves or partitions, between which the letters or bills may be properly classified, or the bottom of the desk or other drawer may be used as the tray or frame of the file, in which event the file would form a permanent part of the drawer.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desk or other drawer, in which is shown my improved letter or bill file. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the removable tray or frame adapted to be placed in a desk or other drawer, and showing a few of the leaves or partitions and the manner ofhinging the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the form of letter or bill file shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a is an ordinary desk or other drawer of sufficient depth to accommodate my improved letter-file and permit of its manipulation therein.

1) is the tray or frame of the file, and may be made either separate or form the bottom part of the drawer, as may be deemed desirable. In either event its construction would be substantially the same, and I have shown it in the drawings as consisting of the side pieces, a, provided with longitudinal grooves c, and the slidable sections or slats d, provided with tenons d, which fit into the grooves 0 of side pieces, 0. These slats d are arranged in the side pieces, 0, with spaces d between them to permit of the passage of the hinges of the leaves or partitions. These leaves or partitions (shown at 0) may be made of stiff cardboard, wood, &c. I have shown them as hinged to the tray or frame b by means of flexible strips 0, of leather, cloth, or other suitable material. These flexible strips 6 are secured on opposite sides of the bottom of each leaf, and pass down through the spaces d and'are secured, as shown at (2 on the bottom surface of the slats d.

As will be clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the lower ends of the leaves 6 do not rest upon the frame I), but are raised above its surface a short distance. This provision is made to allow for an unequal distribution of letters or bills in the spaces between the leaves, which is almost certain to occur, and which is provided for by the flexible connection between the lower ends of the leaves and the surface of the tray or frame, which per mits the leaves to be broughtnearer together or separated, as occasion demands.

It may be desirable to have the leaves or par titions stand vertically when in their normal position. In such a case I dispense with the flexible hinges and employ in lieu thereof a hinge or connection constructed of spring metal, two of the best forms of which are shown at g and g in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the leaves or partitions secured in this manner possess all the functions of those to which the flexiblehinges are applied, with the additional function, as above stated, of remaining normally vertical.

The upper ends of the leaves or partitions e are provided with handles or buttons f, by means of which the leaves may be conveniently swung upon their hinges. These handles f are alternated from side to side on the leaves, as shown in Fig. 1, so as not to catch ICO one upon the other in the operation of the file. l Suitable letters or characters may be stamped or otherwise placed upon these handles, to 10- cate the position of the classified letters or bills.

The operation of my improved file is very simple. When it is desired to either place a letter in the file or remove one therefrom, the handle of the proper leaf or partition is seized and the leaf is swung either backward or forward, as the case may be, the leaves, if there are any either in front or behind, being moved with it. The backward or forward swinging of the leaves is limited by the front and rear walls of the drawer in which the file rests or isconstructed. Vvherethespring hingesorconnections are employed the leaves or partitions, when moved in either direction, return by the action of the springs to their normal vertical position as soon as released.

This construction enables me to use the file independently of the desk or other drawer, if desirable.

I claim- 1. A letter or bill file consisting of frame or tray b, having grooved side pieces, 0 c, the tenoned slats (Z d, and the partitions orleaves e, fieXibl y connected to said slats, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame or tray consisting of grooved side pieces, 0, and tenoned slats d d, with spaces between them, of the partitions or leaves 0, and flexible connections secured to said leaves and passing down through the spaces between the slats and secured upon the bottom thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a letter or bill file, the combination, with the tray or frame and the leaves or partitions, ofthespringhinges or connections, substantially as shown and described.

FRED H. CUTLER.

Witnesses:

W. T. MILLER, I. (J. DEMING. 

